Finally about to take the plunge and purchase the kickr core from wahoo and I saw they did not have my cassette pre-installed so would need to get that but would I have to if we did the Zwift Cog version.
I have an older ritchey breakaway titanium bike and it has an old campy record titanium derailer and wanted to make sure this is all compatible with either cog version or not.
Can someone explain the difference of the zwift cog version and used both and what do they recommend?
BTW it is bluetooth or direct connection to my computer for zwift?
Wahoo sells a Campagnolo freehub body for the Kickr Core that you could use to put a campy cassette on the trainer, if it is 10 speed or more. But there are some limitations on which cassettes will fit on it. You can learn about that on the Wahoo website or by talking to their support team.
If you use the Zwift cog then you should have no problem using that with your Campagnolo drivetrain, provided the chain is not worn out.
The second version of the Zwift Cog allows you to adjust the chainline which should make it quieter and reduce the need for derailleur adjustments to get everything lined up.
The Kickr Core supports Bluetooth and ANT+ pairing. No direct connect on that model.
I believe my cassette is actually shimano but seems to work fine but has been too many years since I messed with it.
So than if I go with the Cog which I am leaning towards now with this info.
a) So zwift changes gears via zwift click and what casstte will it emulate?
b) I imagine no issues with changing between my two chain rings?
c) Do you find the bluetooth drops often or rarely? Which is better to use the bluetooth or ant+?
d) Is there a reason why people would pick cassette option over cog?
Figure after these answers I can just go ahead and buy the version with zwift cog. Seems to fit the bill and ready to go out of the box and no need for another cassette.
The Zwift Cog will replace the cassette that’s on your KICKR Core. To remove the cassette and install the Zwift Cog, you’ll need a chain whip and cassette lockring tool. Do you have these tools already?
There’s no electronics in the Zwift Cog. Virtual Shifting is controlled by the game and relies on the the trainer’s firmware and the Click shift controller’s firmware responding to the shift commands. So: update your KICKR Core firmware using the Wahoo app, and the Click shifter’s firmware using the Zwift Companion app after you’ve installed the Cog.
Pair the trainer + Click controller over Bluetooth. Virtual Shifting will not work if you pair over ANT+.
If your trainer supports Wahoo Direct Connect (i.e. pairing over WiFi or Ethernet) - that will also support Virtual Shifting.
You’ll have 24 virtual gears to use. It’s a pretty big total gear range across those 24 “steps.” I haven’t heard many complaints that someone topped out the high gear, or didn’t have a low enough gear either.
More information on the Virtual Shifting FAQ.
You can use Virtual Shifting with a cassette instead of a Zwift Cog. Main use case is:
An all-Campagonolo drivetrain (meaning the Campi freehub body retrofit for your trainer + Campi-made cassette + Campi-made chain) can run quieter vs a brand X chain on your bike + a Zwift Cog. Sounds like you use a mix of brands so this may not apply in your case.
Compelling reasons to use a Zwift Cog:
If you have multiple bikes with different drivetrains (i.e. one is 10 speed, another is 12 speed), it’s a royal pain to swap cassettes on the trainer every time you swap bikes.
This is a brand new setup I will but so should have no cassette on it and I figure may have the kickr cog already installed on it. I have those tools already anyway.
May need adjustments I figure but I figure you can decide on the shitting of the gears through zwift click? I may misunderstand that virtual shifting is not auto-shifting, you still control the shifting.
Thanks all the links I think this is the best option and will make it work and order it now. Tired of using my computrainer on it. It is fine actually but like to see the difference and using it enough to invest in it.
Glad we could help! Let us know how you like it vs the Computrainer!
Hey uh - how many miles do you have on that chain? Putting a worn out chain on a brand new cog (any cassettes for that matter) might lead to the chain skipping and quickly wearing out the new cog.
I am honestly really interested in the difference. Those are lot of gears with 24 on the virtual shifting and not sure that is both chain rings or not.
The most important is the difference in feel. I mean the comutrainer is old.
The trainer will give you 24 virtual gears without ever shifting the physical gears on your bike.
How it works: when your avatar spawns into a world, Real Gear Detection kicks in. During the first 10 or 15 seconds, the trainer resistance might feel a little bumpy while it compares your pedaling RPM to its flywheel speed. Once it does the math and calculates what chainring x rear cog is on your bike, that initial bumpiness will smooth out, and your trainer should be set to an easy-to-pedal virtual 8th speed.
Real Gear Detection happens one time per session. You need not / should not shift the derailleurs on your bike after that. Start out on whichever chainring gives you
a straighter chain line so that it runs as quietly as possible.